On Saturday, October 8, 2016, Pope Francis will preside at the Marian Vigil in the Jubilee of Mercy, after the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary. This opportunity for prayer will include Marian songs and prayers, during which there will be a procession of delegations from national communities in Italy and from Marian Shrines. ...read more

Last Tuesday, on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy, Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the areas affected by the earthquake last August. The Holy Father arrived in Amatrice, before going to Arquata, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, explaining his visit with these words: “I thought long and hard ...read more

On Wednesday, October 5, 2016, Pope Francis met with the Participants at the First World Conference on Faith and Sports, promoted by the Pontifical Council of Culture together with the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee. Below, find the full text of his prepared remarks: Dear brothers and sisters, I am delighted to greet you, protagonists ...read more

Salt + Light Producer and Host Sebastian Gomes recalls the last minute decision to change the venue of the Vigil and Final Mass to Copacabana Beach during World Youth Day Rio, 2013. ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For October 2016, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Journalists – That journalists, in carrying out their work, may always be motivated by respect for truth and a strong sense of ethics. World Mission Day – That World Mission Day may renew within ...read more

Meeting of International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) in Canterbury Cathedral It is a great privilege to be invited to preach here this morning: the beauty of this place, they awe it invites, the splendour of its music, the spirit of its saints, the richness of its hospitality, the depth of its ...read more

At 17:30, Pope Francis traveled by car to the “Heydar Aliyev” Mosque in Baku for the private meeting with the Sheikh of Caucasus Muslims, Allahshukur Pashazadeh. Upon arrival at 17.45, the Pope was greeted at the entrance of the Mosque by the Sheikh who accompanied him into the building. At the “Mihrab” (semicircular niche in ...read more

This afternoon, the Holy Father Francis traveled by car to the Presidential Palace at Ganjlik for the official protocol ceremony of welcome. Upon arrival at 15.30, the Pope was welcomed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Heydar Aliyev at the entrance of the courtyard of the palace. After playing of the ...read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday at the Salesian centre in Baku, the central event of his 10-hour visit to Azerbaijan. The Pope’s homily, delivered to the congregation gathered in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, centred on the Lord’s call for Christian’s to live in faith and in service. Below, please find the official ...read more

At 17:45, the Holy Father Francis traveled by car to Mtskheta for the visit to the Patriarchal Cathedral Svetitskhoveli, the spiritual center of the Orthodox Church of Georgia. Upon arrival, at 18.15, the Pope was greeted by His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, who accompanies the shrine of St. Sidonia ...read more